Defense worries about Watson’s fate in Japan

Environmental activist Paul Watson should not be extradited to Japan, argues human rights lawyer Françios Zimeray, part of Watson’s defense team. Watson, detained in July and held in custody in Greenland, faces potential life imprisonment in Japan without a fair trial. A 2010 Japanese arrest warrant stems from a confrontation with whalers in Antarctica. Human Rights Watch’s 2023 report criticizes Japan’s justice system. Described as competent and impartial, it systematically violates the accused’s rights, including forced confessions and interrogations without a lawyer, akin to a ‘hostage justice system’, says Zimeray. The UN Human Rights Committee also expresses concerns about Japan’s interrogations and fair trial rights. Zimeray suggests that evidence against Watson is fabricated, and Japan’s legal system is coercive, especially when national pride is at stake. Instances exist where extradition requests to Japan have been denied due to human rights concerns.